What a waste

[SWANNY 25]

Just found this on one of the auction sites

What a waste of a very nice coin

[SWANNY 25]

They are calling this a "Gaming Token" , is that right ?

[Stuntman 264]

Is it brass, rather than gold?

[Peter 615]

Often used as a watch chain fob.

[azda 979]

It's a brass token

[SWANNY 25]

Thank god for that....

[bagerap 706]

There are so many varieties of the Spade Guinea token that they are obviously collected. Some can be worth a few bob, if you know what you're doing.

These'll help for a start.

http://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1963_BNJ_32_15.pdf

http://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1983_BNJ_53_11.pdf

[Nordle11 564]

I didn't know any of these are worth something, thanks for the links bagerap!

[pokal02 44]

Among 'what a waste' coins I've seen are enamelled 1853 and 1821 TERTIO edge crowns and a Richard groat (not sure whether 2nd or 3rd) cut in half for one of those penknife jobbies. Why don't those that mutilate coins stick to 1967 pennies!

[DaveG38 405]

I too have seen some desirable coins enamelled - most interesting was a 1697 crown. I've always wondered if it's possible to remove the enamelling. Is it just paint that can be removed with paint stripper or is it heat blasted into the surface and hence permanent? Being a chemist, at least by education, I ought to know the answer, but it all depends on what was used for the coating.

[davidrj 194]

Traditional enamel is coloured glass, most modern ones are not enamel but acrylic resin

[TomGoodheart 400]

Gaming tokens appear to be quite often come ready pierced for suspension, so no great loss and an interesting piece of history.

[DaveG38 405]

Traditional enamel is coloured glass, most modern ones are not enamel but acrylic resin

So its hydrofluoric acid to strip it off older coins then!

[Bernie 203]

I believe Hydrofluoric acid can be extremely dangerous if contacted with your skin !

[DaveG38 405]

I believe Hydrofluoric acid can be extremely dangerous if contacted with your skin !

Hydrofluoric is about as unpleasant as any of the 'standard' acids, like hydrochloric, nitric or sulphuric, so contact with the skin isn't recommended. However, it does have the valuable property of disssolving glass - hence its use in the production of frosted glass.